[RE-wrenches] Panel installation in snow country 0.02

Mon Dec 9 06:55:48 PST 2024

My Wattsun trackers are programmed to go as steeply vertical as they can for the winter and it’s dramatic comparing how quickly my array is clear organically versus other assorted angles angle is critical
Dana Orzel
C: 208.721.7003
E- dana at solarwork.com

On Dec 8, 2024, at 7:45 AM, Daryl DeJoy via RE-wrenches <re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org> wrote:

On my own arrays in Maine, I always tilted the old Direct Power and Water top of pole mounts to the maximum 60 degrees and spent half an hour giving them a good coat of Rain-X in the late fall. They seemed to shed snow much better until the later snows in March when I was unwilling to get back up there and recoat.

Daryl DeJoy
NABCEP Certified PVIP since 2006
Island Energy Storage

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On Sun, Dec 8, 2024 at 9:05 AM david quattro via RE-wrenches <re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org<mailto:re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org>> wrote:
Here is a very interesting video about vertically mounted bifacial modules - performing surprisingly well.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xD1MT-ek05w

On Sat, Dec 7, 2024 at 4:36 PM John Blittersdorf via RE-wrenches <re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org<mailto:re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org>> wrote:
I'm starting to think that Vertical panels are the only sure fire way to keep them clear.  I did a small cabin years ago with 2 panels on the south wall of the cabin.  All they wanted is a few lights and cell phone charging
and rarely  used in the winter. It worked great.  Their Trace 1200 watt inverter was turned off when they were not there and the C40 kept the batteries charged over the winter without any problems.  Now I am
stressing over an unreachable camp on an island (you may know this one Kirk) where I updated a 12V system with outback inverter and about 1kw of solar which had been shut down in the winter months.  I replaced the inverter with
a VFX3648, added an FM100, Installed 5 kw of PV on a ground mount at 45 degrees (mistake- should have done 60 degrees or more with more space at the bottom but assumed not much snow there, all to run a Starlink and Optics monitoring and lots of cameras.  60 days into this saga today at 4 pm, the signal was lost. Is it snow or ice on the panels, or just lack of enough sun (which has been minimal)  which caused low battery cutoff. Batteries are new AGMs and I set cutoff at 45.2.  I didn't want to run them too low. If I had some of the panels vertical and 4' above the ground, I could probably be assured that snow would not stay on long. Our problem here in Vermont is that when the clear
weather arrives, it usually comes with frigid cold and ground and pole mounts are kept frozen by the ambient temperature until the sun can warm them up but that doesn't happen with 6" on snow on the face. Only above freezing
temperatures or still air with intense sun will clear them.  I'm working on a ground mount now that was started by a previous owner of a property where the base for the ground mount array is a post and beam substructure 4 to 8 feet above the ground. I'm thinking about putting 4 panels vertical and 4 at 45 degree angle on the north edge of the structure and 8 panels at a summer angle on the South edge with adequate space for snow shedding. .  We have a temporary array at Approx 35 degree angle that has somewhat shed the snow but with no space for snow buildup, the shedding stops.

 I am planning to build a fence around my garden this summer with PV mounted vertically with the stacks of 110 watt modules I have accumulated from repowering pole mounts. South and North side of garden facing south and the east and west sides facing east and west. Any thoughts on this crazy idea?

John Blittersdorf
Off Grid Vermont

On Fri, Dec 6, 2024 at 1:51 PM Dana Orzel via RE-wrenches <re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org<mailto:re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org>> wrote:
Having installed at up to 13,200’ elevation (60° rack mount) and in snow country for most of most of 37 years and dealing with installations by others that almost or completely come off the roof here is my 0.02:

Low angle roofs less than 35deg seem to take on most of the damage incidents. Avalanches are most prevalent at 32-35+deg. Avys tend not to slide at less than 32 deg.
Is the lower edge of the array shaded or partial shade on part of the array with the low angle winter sun? This allows for ice up on the bottom edge or on a section of the array.
Is there a drop zone for the snow? I use 5’ min below the leading edge for a mountain install I would increase this to higher.
I know this sounds obvious - Is there a snow fence or obstruction (door shed roof) below the array?

I now install esp. on lower angle roofs a mid-third rail & use 50% more contact to the roof points (cheap array life insurance).
If using a micro inverter or optimizer – attach this to the panel so it flexes with the panel if necessary not the rail mount system. Watch out for bolts that stick up close to the back sheet.

Happy Hollar Daze all!
_________________________________________________________
Dana Orzel                GREAT SOLAR WORKS!
C – 208.721.7003      E – dana at solarwork.com<mailto:dana at solarwork.com>
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